“I’m Gayathri Pusuluri, and my story is one of resilience, passion, and the pursuit of dreams. Born and raised in Hyderabad, I’ve always been fueled with love for the arts, despite societal pressures urging me towards a more conventional path.
While I pursued an engineering degree in Computer Science, my heart was always drawn to acting. After graduating, I made the bold decision to chase my passion and traveled to the United States to study acting for film & TV at the University of California, Los Angeles.
The journey wasn’t easy. I faced skepticism and lack of support, but I couldn’t give up. Joining drama and dance clubs in college, attending theatre classes, and creating YouTube videos during my engineering days turned out to be baby steps towards my dreams.
The pandemic became a turning point, pushing me to take more acting classes and finally gaining my family’s support. Starting my classes at UCLA marked the beginning of a new chapter, where I delved into the intricacies of the world of acting, filmmaking and the competitive world of Hollywood auditions.
From creating thousands of self-tapes to landing roles in student films,music videos& commercials every project only fueled my determination. Then came the audition for the ‘He Gets Us’ commercial.
“He Gets Us” is a poignant portrayal of individuals with opposing ideologies engaging in the beautiful act of washing each other’s feet. My portrayal in this symbolic act is a testament to human humility, respect, and dignity, urging viewers to extend compassion even to those with whom they may disagree.
Navigating three levels of auditions, from submitting my profile to showcasing empathy and vulnerability over Zoom audition, I triumphed amidst talented actors. The premiere during Super Bowl LVIII was a dream come true, reaching a record of 123 million US viewers.
But the pinnacle of my journey awaited in New York City’s Times Square. Seeing myself illuminated on those larger than life billboards was a moment of pure magic. It was a testament to years of hard work, dedication, and unwavering belief in myself.
As the first Telugu-origin Indian actress and second Indian actress to achieve this feat for a Hollywood produced commercial is an honor I deeply cherish . My journey from the streets of Hyderabad to the billboards of Times Square is a testament to the power of resilience, passion, and the pursuit of one’s dreams.
Through it all, I’ve learned that it is a long process and sometimes looks like a dead-end but I just got the hope that better things do await for people who keep working for what they love. I know times can be really hard and things may seem impossible but I hope you get the success you rightfully deserve. I’ve seen for myself that it was all worth it”.